The Bastard Crown The Normans Book 1 edition by H A Culley Literature Fiction eBooks
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Readers’ Reviews
Praise for H A Culley’s first novel – The Bastard’s Crown
“ A very well written and historically accurate account of William's conquest of England. ”
“ I'd recommend it to fans of the genre. ”
“ I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book in the series. ”
Synopsis
This version is the revised edition with various corrections and some redrafting of the original.
H A Culley’s first historical novel brings the Norman invasion of England to life through the eyes of both Normans and Saxons. In 1057 William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy, is surrounded by enemies on the continent who he must overcome before he can pursue his claim to the English crown. In 1066 Harold Godwinson narrowly defeats a Norse army near York only to find that William has landed in the south.
Even after the Normans have killed Harold and broken the military strength of the Saxons at Senlac Hill near Hastings, William faces another five years of hard campaigning before he can call himself the ruler of all England.
Against this setting Hugo de Cuille, heir to a manor in Maine as a boy, is disinherited before being kidnapped and kept as a slave. Later he is knighted for bravery but faces many more trials including the enmity of powerful nobles and rejection by the Saxon girl he loves. The book ends with the horrifying “harrying of the north” and the winter march over the Pennines to capture Chester, the last important town to hold out against the new regime.
About the Author
H A Culley served in the Army for twenty four years during which time he had a variety of unusual jobs. These included commanding an Arab unit in the desert for three years and a tour as the military attaché in Beirut in the late seventies.
After leaving the Army he became the business manager of a large independent school for twenty years before moving into marketing and fundraising. He has also been involved in two major historical projects and now works for an educational charity.
He has given talks on a wide variety of historical topics for several years and the research involved provided his inspiration for writing.
He has three grown up children and lives near Holy Island in Northumberland, England with his wife and two Bernese Mountain Dogs.
The Bastard Crown The Normans Book 1 edition by H A Culley Literature Fiction eBooks
As a dyed-in-the-wool historical novel buff, I was eagerly anticipating reading H. A. Culley's "The Bastard's Crown." This novel is set against the backdrop of the consolidation of power in western France by William, Duke of Normandy who was known to his detractors as "William the Bastard" due to his illegitimate birth, hence the book's title. During the period of unrest in England following the initial unification of that country under the Danish king C'nute, Edward, one of the Saxon "aethlings," princes of the royal house of Wessex, sought refuge in France with the Normans. William would always claim that, in gratitude for sheltering him and protecting him, Edward had promised William's father that, if Edward ever became king of England and died without heir, the duke of Normandy would be his successor. Of course Edward (known as the "Confessor" due to his religious piety) becomes king of England and dies without an heir. The Saxon witmoot convenes and, in a break with tradition, chooses as the new king not the aethling (who is only 12) but Harold, Earl of Wessex. To enforce his claim to the English throne, William and his army set sail from western France to conquer England. The year is 1066, A.D., a mere 50 years after C'nute first united the country under one king.The book follows the adventures of Hugo de Cuille, the son of knight who holds a small manor in Maine, a French province, unfortunately situated between two powerful rivals, Anjou and Normandy. By fate Hugo and his friend Gilbert, son of the manor's blacksmith, both of whom are 12, are in a position to save the life of Guillame de Peveril, a young knight rumored to be Duke William's illegitimate son. As a consequence Hugo becomes Guillame's squire, is subsequently knighted for his heroism by William (in a most unchilvalric way), and becomes part of the duke's army of conquest. In recognition for his service, William, now king of England, grants Hugo a number of English manors. Having no lands in France, Hugo and other Norman knights, gradually become more English than French. Hugo even marries a Saxon wife and has Saxon friends in his retinue some of whom he knights on his own authority. However complete integration into English society is still several generations off, and to history, Hugo and his fellow conquerors will always be known as "The Normans."
So far, there is plenty to like about "The Bastard's Crown" for readers of historical fiction. My disappointment with this book comes from the author's writing style. His narrative seems to me to be a bit wooden, events which happen to Hugo and his companions are too predictable, and the book generally fails to create that "you are there" feeling that good historical fiction writers seem to achieve. Even given this criticism, I was entertained sufficiently by Culley's version of the Norman Conquest that I purchased the second book in his series on the Norman's, "England In Anarchy." I just hope that now that he has his first book out of the way, Mr. Culley will allow events to flow more naturally. Otherwise, I may not invest in the third installment in this series.
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The Bastard Crown The Normans Book 1 edition by H A Culley Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
Oftentimes when one reads about large and well populated historical events, almost all the people involved but those at the top of the food chain are forgotten once the storytelling is finished. Culley has a huge cast to contend with in trying to relate the conquest of England with all the political forces, events, and context of the times needed to tell the story to a contemporary audience. Of course the characterizations are a bit simple, but the continually shifting tides of loyalties and ranks provide plenty of drama. The dialogue is very easy to inhabit, with some humor and plenty of egos to flesh out the possible dynamics inherent in this shifting world. The treacherous nature of life due to war, crime, disease, and the elements reflects the continual rolling of the dice in any one person's life. The huge shift to the life of the nobility in Normandy and England during the roughly 20-30 year period is well worth commenting on, and done in an easily digestible manner. I thoroughly enjoyed devouring Culley's narrative while trying to tie all the story points to what I already understood about the history. I will likely revisit some of those sources with human beings in mind and not just the stitched character's I often envision from the Bayeaux Tapestry.
The Norman's are a fascinating people. From Viking raiders to the dominate military force in Europe. Everyone knows about Hastings but what where the Norman's like? This book gives a very good look into the life of a Norman Knight. The story gives a nice look into what life was like in a very important time in history. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book in the series. The author did an outstanding job and will most definitely purchase his next work.
yes, I did like this book very much. I found the story very interesting to read. However, not the fault of the author's, but, the author will get the blame. The book should have been proofed! Thoroughly edited and re-edited then proofed and again. At least once on every page was either a misspelled word, or a word placed wrong, or a double word, or just something wrong. For instance, Hugo goes to get his sword. It reads somewhat like this ( Hugo reaches for his the sword.) As if the author wrote it one way ( Hugo reaches for his sword) then edits at another date (Hugo reaches for the sword), but somehow there is the mix up. Several places you will find 'he' instead of 'the', and many many other irritating flubbos like this. Just plain good editting and proofing would have made for a much better read. In fact, I had read about 40% of the book when I decided to restart it. And I just may re-read it again before going to the second book. So many characters and action. Perhaps, if the author had not had so much action, and left out a character or two? But overall, it really is a good story, and I do recommend it if you like the time period. Here's hoping the next two are better proofed!
As a dyed-in-the-wool historical novel buff, I was eagerly anticipating reading H. A. Culley's "The Bastard's Crown." This novel is set against the backdrop of the consolidation of power in western France by William, Duke of Normandy who was known to his detractors as "William the Bastard" due to his illegitimate birth, hence the book's title. During the period of unrest in England following the initial unification of that country under the Danish king C'nute, Edward, one of the Saxon "aethlings," princes of the royal house of Wessex, sought refuge in France with the Normans. William would always claim that, in gratitude for sheltering him and protecting him, Edward had promised William's father that, if Edward ever became king of England and died without heir, the duke of Normandy would be his successor. Of course Edward (known as the "Confessor" due to his religious piety) becomes king of England and dies without an heir. The Saxon witmoot convenes and, in a break with tradition, chooses as the new king not the aethling (who is only 12) but Harold, Earl of Wessex. To enforce his claim to the English throne, William and his army set sail from western France to conquer England. The year is 1066, A.D., a mere 50 years after C'nute first united the country under one king.
The book follows the adventures of Hugo de Cuille, the son of knight who holds a small manor in Maine, a French province, unfortunately situated between two powerful rivals, Anjou and Normandy. By fate Hugo and his friend Gilbert, son of the manor's blacksmith, both of whom are 12, are in a position to save the life of Guillame de Peveril, a young knight rumored to be Duke William's illegitimate son. As a consequence Hugo becomes Guillame's squire, is subsequently knighted for his heroism by William (in a most unchilvalric way), and becomes part of the duke's army of conquest. In recognition for his service, William, now king of England, grants Hugo a number of English manors. Having no lands in France, Hugo and other Norman knights, gradually become more English than French. Hugo even marries a Saxon wife and has Saxon friends in his retinue some of whom he knights on his own authority. However complete integration into English society is still several generations off, and to history, Hugo and his fellow conquerors will always be known as "The Normans."
So far, there is plenty to like about "The Bastard's Crown" for readers of historical fiction. My disappointment with this book comes from the author's writing style. His narrative seems to me to be a bit wooden, events which happen to Hugo and his companions are too predictable, and the book generally fails to create that "you are there" feeling that good historical fiction writers seem to achieve. Even given this criticism, I was entertained sufficiently by Culley's version of the Norman Conquest that I purchased the second book in his series on the Norman's, "England In Anarchy." I just hope that now that he has his first book out of the way, Mr. Culley will allow events to flow more naturally. Otherwise, I may not invest in the third installment in this series.
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